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Style Code: AQ0818-100
Condition: Brand New
KLEKT is Europe's original sneaker and streetwear trading marketplace. Having been established since 2013 KLEKT has established itself as the #1 platform to get Authentic products. KLEKT employ a team of Authenication experts who know what a fake is when they see one after many combined years of experience. This ensures you don't landed with a snide pair of sneakers. You can buy with absolute confidence knowing that you're not getting ripped off.

subset: commoncrawl


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Penn State is rocked by charges against a former coach and resignations by two administrators. Jason Carroll reports.
Post by: Anderson Cooper, Jason Carroll
Filed under: Crime & Punishment
Can the NCAA go after Penn State for ethics violations? Their gross negligence placed so many children at serious risk of contact with a violent, sexual predator. Had even 1 person responded appropriately, and involved investigators at the state level, it's unlikely we would be looking at Victim #4, Victim #5, Victim #6…
Anderson, you have a powerful voice. Go after everyone involved with the same spirit you went after Phillip Greaves. Let each and every one of these children know that what happened to them in not ok, and we, as Americans, will not tolerate the actions of anyone involved in a conspiracy to commit violent crimes against children.
It saddens me to know that an institution responsible for protecting and molding the lives of the youth is turning a blind eye to protect its own alleged enablers. Doing just enough to cover his/her backside individually, one responsible faculty member could have made a difference. Could have changed a life. And in one last mock act of contrition, the university does just enough to admonish the inaction of some while conveniently protect Coach Joe Paterno. Way to go, Penn State. I'm sure the alleged victims will sleep much better at night knowing that JoePa is going to be ok.
Every single Penn State football player should refuse to play in any game until Joe Paterno retires.There are more important issues here than having the players earn more revenue for Penn State.
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
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Insurance markets open to surge of new customers
CHICAGO — The online insurance marketplaces that are at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul struggled to handle the volume of new consumers Tuesday, the first day of a six-month open-enrollment period.
Federal officials said they were working to address the website problems as quickly as possible. People contacting the federal call center also reported long wait times.
"We have built a dynamic system and are prepared to make adjustments as needed and improve the consumer experience," Health and Human Services spokeswoman Joanne Peters said.
State-operated sites also experienced glitches. Rhode Island's site opened as scheduled, but was quickly overwhelmed by visitors and went down. Sites for Maryland and Minnesota were not expected to open until at least midday. Exchange officials in Colorado said their website would not be fully functional for the first month, although consumers will be able to get help applying for government subsidies during that time.
In Portsmouth, N.H., Deborah Lielasus tried to sign up for coverage but got only as far as creating an account before the website stopped working. She said she expected glitches.
Lielasus, a 54-year-old self-employed grant writer, currently spends about $8,500 a year in premiums and more than $10,000 for out-of-pocket expenses because she has a health condition and her only option was a state high-risk insurance pool. She said she expects those costs to decrease significantly when she's able to sign up for insurance on the marketplace.
As excited as she was to sign up, she said, her anticipation was tempered by dismay over the government shutdown that was led by congressional Republicans who want to block the health insurance reforms.
"I'm really happy that this is happening, that this is being launched ... I feel like it's a child caught in the middle of a really bad divorce," Lielasus said.
Despite the first-day hitches, insurers and advocates pushed the message to consumers about the new health insurance options. Employees of Independence Blue Cross converged on four of Philadelphia's main train transit hubs Tuesday to distribute information and answer questions about the new exchanges.
At Suburban Station downtown, the company gave out more than 7,000 calendars marked with important insurance-related dates — starting with Oct. 1, the first day consumers can buy policies.
Ralph Kellum took a calendar even though he's already covered through his employer, the local transit agency. He said he knew a lot of people who would be interested in getting insurance.
"A lot of people ... (who) have the pre-existing problems, couldn't get insurance, now they can," Kellum said. "Well, supposedly they can."
The nationwide rollout comes after months of buildup in which the marketplaces have been both praised and vilified. The shutdown will have no immediate effect on the insurance marketplaces that are the backbone of the law, because they operate with money that isn't subject to the annual budget wrangling in Washington.
The marketplaces represent a turning point in the nation's approach to health care, the biggest expansion in coverage in nearly 50 years.
The Obama administration hopes to sign up 7 million people during the first year and aims to eventually sign up at least half of the nearly 50 million uninsured Americans through an expansion of Medicaid or government-subsidized plans. But if people become frustrated with the glitches in the computer-based enrollment process and turn away from the program, the prospects for Obama's signature domestic policy achievement could dim.
"The promise of the law is that no one will go bankrupt because of medical bills," said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, which helped work for passage of the law. "It won't happen in the first day or the first year. But when the law is fully operational, it will provide an economic benefit to roughly 30 million Americans."
Tanden cautioned against rushing to judge the marketplace's success on its first-day performance. Numerous observers had predicted bugs and setbacks. Trained outreach workers in many states are having trouble getting the certification they need to start helping people to enroll.
Many states predicted that an initial surge of interest would test the online system, but they expect most people to sign up closer to Dec. 15, which is the deadline for coverage to start Jan. 1. Customers have until the end of March to sign up in order to avoid tax penalties.
Looming as one of the biggest challenges to the law's success is the ability of insurers to persuade young and healthy people to buy insurance to balance the costs of covering the older and the sick.
"You've got to launch this thing right the first time," said Robert Laszewski, a consultant who worked 20 years in the insurance industry. "If you don't, financially you will never recover."
Under the law, health insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to someone with a pre-existing medical condition and cannot impose lifetime caps on coverage. They also must cover a list of essential services, ranging from mental health treatment to maternity services.
Another obstacle: Nearly three-fourths of people under 65 who lack insurance are unaware that the marketplaces open Tuesday, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey released over the weekend.
Spending money to raise that awareness with ad campaigns has varied vastly, with some Republican-led states doing little or nothing to promote the insurance exchanges. Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican, even recently urged residents not to sign up for coverage.
In Florida, Republican Gov. Rick Scott and key lawmakers have pushed back against implementing parts of the law. The Florida Department of Health recently ordered county health departments to prohibit so-called navigators from signing people up for health insurance at those facilities.
But other states are doing more, such as Kentucky, the only Southern state running its own marketplace. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, was an early supporter of the health law.
The state kicked off an $11 million advertising campaign in June, with ads on TV, radio, Internet and newspapers. It will expand
Tuesday and continue through the first three months of next year.
"Frankly, we can't implement the Affordable Care Act fast enough," Beshear said.


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Tampa area man swallowed by sinkhole under bedroom
A huge sinkhole opened up under a man's bedroom and swallowed him as he screamed for help. He was missing Friday and feared dead.
Officials lowered equipment into the sinkhole but didn't see any sign of life. Jeremy Bush, who was at the home near Tampa, said it took him only seconds to get to his brother's room about 11 p.m. Thursday. He jumped into the hole and dirt was quickly up to his neck.
"The floor was still giving in and the dirt was still going down, but I didn't care. I wanted to save my brother," he said. "But I just couldn't do nothing."
Jeremy Bush had to be helped out of the sinkhole by a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy. Bush stood in a neighbor's yard across the street from the house Friday and recounted the harrowing collapse.
"He was screaming my name. I could swear I heard him hollering my name to help him," he said of his brother.
Engineers worked to determine the size of the sinkhole. At the surface, officials estimated it was about 30 feet across. Below the surface, officials believed it was 100 feet wide.
From the outside of the small, sky blue house, nothing appeared wrong. There wear no cracks and the only sign something was amiss was the yellow caution tape circling the house.
Jeremy Bush's wife and his 2-year-old daughter were also inside the house. "She keeps asking where her Uncle Jeff is," he said. "I lost everything. I work so hard to support my wife and kid and I lost everything."
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Douglas Duvall said he helped Jeremy Bush as the bedroom was still collapsing.
"I reached down and was able to actually able to get him by his hand and pull him out of the hole. The hole was collapsing. At that time, we left the house," Duvall said.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Jessica Damico said when Duvall arrived, there was nothing left of the bedroom.
"There was no furniture. All he saw was a piece of the mattress sticking up," she said.
"We put engineering equipment into the sinkhole and didn't see anything compatible with life," Damico said. "The entire house is on the sinkhole."
Neighbors on both sides of the home have been evacuated.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokesman Larry McKinnon said authorities asked sinkhole and engineering experts, and they were using equipment to see if the ground can support the weight of heavy machinery needed for the recovery effort.


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Steve Jobs taught Apple CEO Tim Cook to "never ask what he would do," Cook said on stage at the 10th annual All Things D conference on Tuesday. "Just do what's right. And so I'm doing that."
Cook took the opportunity to reflect upon the lessons he learned from Jobs before his death last October, explaining that the founder never wanted Cook to dwell on what he would have wanted after he died. Instead, Jobs wanted Cook to avoid thinking about the past and instead look to the future, focusing on creating the next great thing.
"When he called me to his home to talk about being the CEO and subsequently the discussions we had, he told me, 'I witnessed what happened at Disney when Walt passed away,'" Cook said. "He said that people would go to meetings, and all sit around and talk about, what would Walt have done? How would he view this? And he looked at me with those intense eyes that only he had, and he told me to never do that, to never ask what he would do. Just do what's right. And so I'm doing that."
Cook has faced a number of challenges since he took over last August, from the latest iPhone and iPad launches to dealing with the public relations "situation" over Apple's suppliers in China. Cook answered questions related to new products and China predictably, implying that there are interesting things to come when WWDC begins in 1.5 weeks, and that the company's dealings in China are often more complex than casual users realize.
"People focus on the final assembly, because that's the part where people look at it and say 'That's an iPhone,'" he said. "They don't think of all the parts underneath that add significant value. So on assembly, could it be done in the US? I hope so some day. The tool and die maker skill in the US began to go down in the '60s and '70s. How many tool and die makers do you know now? We couldn't fill a room. In China you'd need several cities."
Cook also expounded upon accusations that Apple rips off other companies when it comes to the development of products like the iPhone and the iPad. "People accuse us of lots of things," Cook told the audience. "When you look at those, the vast majority of those are on standard essential patents, and this is an area where the patent system is broken today." Cook went on to explain that he believes other companies are trying to use the court system to extract high license fees for so-called fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms, saying that he believes Apple has "not sued anyone over standards essential patents that we own, because we view that it's fundamentally wrong to do that."
"The problem is, if you add up what they say the patents are worth, nobody could be in the phone business. So, it's gotten kind of crazy," Cook said.
Predictably, Cook avoided questions about the company's upcoming announcements, but said that Apple plans to "double down on secrecy" regarding its upcoming products. Whether that will actually happen remains a mystery, but Cook made sure to emphasize that the company may not always do everything right, but it's going to do its best to enjoy doing what it believes in.
"You could have an S on your chest and a cape on your back and not be capable of doing everything," Cook said. "[Steve] also taught me that the joy is in the journey, which was a revelation for me. And he taught all of us that life is fragile, and that we're not guaranteed tomorrow, so give it everything you've got."


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Brandi Glanville Undergoing Surgery to Remove a Tumor in Her Breast
Brandi Glanville will undergo surgery this week to remove a non-cancerous tumor in her breast, according to inTouch.
Photos: Everybody's posing nude! Check out Rihanna and other stars who've bared all
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star had been feeling ill for months and doctors said the tumor was to blame, she told the magazine.
Glanville said she'll be "relieved" once the surgery is over and her health issues are (hopefully) behind her.
Fall TV Scorecard: What's renewed/canceled?
"I'm anxious about the recovery but have great friends who will be playing nurse," she said. "I'm ready to get it over with and feel better."
View original Brandi Glanville Undergoing Surgery to Remove a Tumor in Her Breast at TVGuide.com
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A routine urine culture detects the amount of germs (microorganisms like bacteria) present in the urine.
Once a urine sample is collected, a technician will keep it in conditions where microorganisms can multiply. Normally, no more than a small number of germs will be in the urine if there's no infection. If a larger number of germs are present, the technician will use a microscope or chemical tests to determine the specific types growing in the culture. The technician also may run tests to determine which medications will be most effective against the microorganism if the doctor diagnoses an infection.
A urine culture is used to diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) and see what kinds of germs are causing it. The doctor may order a urine culture if your child:
No preparation other than cleansing the area around the urinary opening is required for the urine culture. Tell your doctor if your child is taking antibiotics or has taken them recently.
Collecting the sample should only take a few minutes. Your child will be asked to pee into a sterile sample cup in the doctor's office. If your child isn't potty trained and can't pee into a cup, a catheter (a narrow soft tube) may need to be inserted into the bladder to obtain the urine specimen.
The skin surrounding the urinary opening has to be cleaned just before the urine is collected. In this "clean-catch" method, you or your child cleans the skin around the urinary opening with a special towelette. Your child then urinates into the toilet, stops momentarily, and then urinates again into the collection container. Catching the pee in "midstream" is the goal. The container shouldn't touch your child's skin. Be sure to wash your hands and your child's hands before and after this process.
Sometimes it's preferable to collect a sample first thing in the morning after your child wakes up. If this is the case, you may be asked to help your child with the test at home. You'll take the sample to the lab, where a technician will test it for the presence of germs. Follow any storage and transportation instructions the lab gives you.
Because the test involves normal urination, there shouldn't be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine sample. (There may be temporary discomfort if a catheter was inserted to collect the urine.) It's important to keep the area around the urinary opening clean before the test and to catch the urine sample midstream.
The results of the urine culture will be available in 1-3 days. Your doctor will go over the results with you and explain what they mean.
No risks are involved when providing a sample for a urine culture. If a catheterized specimen is required, it may cause temporary discomfort. You can discuss any questions you have about this procedure with your healthcare provider.
Urinating to provide the specimen for the test is usually painless. Ease your child's fears by explaining how the test will be conducted and why it's being done. Make sure your child understands that the urinary opening must be clean and the pee must be collected midstream.
If you have questions about the urine culture, speak with your doctor.


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|House information
Godric Gryffindor
|House colours
Crimson/Scarlet and Gold
|Common room
|You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart
–The Sorting Hat, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Gryffindor is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Godric Gryffindor. The particular characteristics of students Sorted into Gryffindor are courage, chivalry, and determination. The emblematic animal is a lion, and its colours are red and gold. Minerva McGonagall is the most recent known Head of House. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as "Nearly Headless Nick" is the house ghost.
Gryffindor corresponds roughly to the element of fire, and it is for that reason that the colours red and gold were chosen to represent the House[1].The colour of fire corresponds to that of a lion as well, red representing the mane and tail and gold representing the coat.
The Gryffindor house emphasises the traits of courage as well as "daring, nerve, and chivalry," and thus its members are generally regarded as brave, though sometimes to the point of recklessness. They can also be short-tempered. Notably, Gryffindor house contributed many members to Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix.
According to Phinaes Nigellus Black, members of other houses, particularly Slytherin, sometimes feel that Gryffindors engage in "pointless heroics." Another Slytherin, Severus Snape, considered many Gryffindors to be self-righteous and arrogant, with no regard for rules.
|The House of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizarding world for nearly ten centuries.
–Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
Gryffindors and Slytherins have shared a fierce house rivalry since their founders, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin, respectively, had a severe falling out over Slytherin's emphasis on blood purity. There might also be an element of feeling wronged; as Harry and his fellow Gryffindors tend to win in a lot of circumstances which, when viewed from a Slytherin's point of view, may be considered unfair. Examples of this include the last-minute points awarded by Headmaster Dumbledore at the Leaving Feast, which conveniently put Gryffindor ten points ahead of Slytherin in the 1991–1992 school year, the fact that no points were deducted for the rule breaking that happened during that night and Harry being permitted by Professor McGonagall to have his own broomstick for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, even though first-years are not normally permitted their own broomsticks.
Even members of other houses might have felt that Gryffindor received favouritism, considering that many saw Harry being chosen as the fourth competitor in the Triwizard Tournament as stealing Hufflepuff student Cedric Diggory's thunder unfairly.
Overall, however, the houses of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tended to side with Gryffindor in its rivalry with Slytherin. This was particularly notable during the Second Wizarding War — the members of Dumbledore's Army were from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, but lacked any Slytherins (This may be because they were not notified of the Army's creation as it came through word of mouth and they did not seem to associate with many or any Slytherins), and during the Battle of Hogwarts, the Slytherin students left while many students from the other three houses remained behind to fight against Lord Voldemort.
Common Room[edit]
The Gryffindor Common Room is located in one of the castle's towers (Gryffindor Tower), the entrance to which is located on the seventh floor and is guarded by an oil painting of the Fat Lady, who is garbed in a pink silk dress. She permits entry only after being given the correct (regularly changing) password. Behind her painting is a large common room, with a fireplace, and two staircases leading up to the girls' and boys' dormitories.
There is a spell on the girls' staircase that prevents boys from using it, however there is no such enchantment on the staircase to the boys' dormitory, allowing girls to use it whenever they wish, due to the founders' belief that girls were more trustworthy. The common room is very comfortable, and members of the Gryffindor house meet there for study groups, celebrations, or relaxation. The walls are lined with portraits, each one depicting a previous or current Head of Gryffindor
Head of House[edit]
The head of house before and during Harry Potter's time was Minerva McGonagall. Minerva became the head house possibly at the same time she was appointed Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, in 1956 when Albus Dumbledore became Headmaster, she took over his previous teaching position. It is unknown who later became the head of house when she was made headmistress in 1998 following the end of the Second Wizarding War.
List of known Gryffindors[edit]
Fat Lady †
Molly Weasley (née Prewett)
Lily Potter I (née Evans) †
Behind the scenes[edit]
- J.K. Rowling was once asked in an interview into which House would she sort British politician and former Prime minister Gordon Brown, were she the Sorting Hat. She jokingly responded that she would sort him into Gryffindor, because of the red colours of his political party, which match the colours of Gryffindor.
- Rowling herself was sorted into Gryffindor House on Pottermore.[6]
- Many members of the Gryffindor House seem to have a gift for Transfiguration; Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were both Transfiguration professors, while the latter was the Head of this House. There are four known Animagi from Gryffindor house: James Potter (a stag), Sirius Black (a dog), Peter Pettigrew (a rat) and Minerva McGonagall (a cat). Gryffindor Hermione Granger was noted to be very talented in Transfiguration from her first class. James Potter's wand was also noted to be good for Transfiguration.
- Neville Longbottom was an exception to this 'rule', as Transfiguration was among his worst subjects (Herbology was his best).
- In the films, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil's twin sister, is seen as a Gryffindor, while in the books she is a Ravenclaw.
- Based on their portrait hanging in Gryffindor Tower, Valeria Myriadd, Oracutus Spheer, Damara Dodderidge, Percival Pratt and several other unknown individuals may have been Gryffindors.
- Rubeus Hagrid stated in the first book that all the wizards who went bad were from Slytherin, however, Peter Pettigrew, who was in Gryffindor disproves this. Hagrid, however, didn't know that Pettigrew was still alive, or that he was working for Voldemort. (It should also be noted that Quirinus Quirrell, a Ravenclaw, was working for Voldemort at the time, although Hagrid was unaware of this as well.) Another reason why this is odd is that, at the time, Sirius Black was believed to have gone bad (Hagrid's comments in the Three Broomsticks prove that he knew nothing of the truth in this instance), and he was also a Gryffindor. So Hagrid would have known of at least one Gryffindor who had 'gone bad'. He most likely did not mention this so that Harry would not try to find out more about his godfather, or it could have been 'Gryffindor propaganda', since Slytherin and Gryffindor are known rivals. It is also possible that Hagrid did not remember these exceptions at the time.
- Evanna Lynch, the actress who portrayed Luna in the films, was sorted into Gryffindor house on Pottermore.[7]
- It should be noted that the colours and emblems of Gryffindor resemble the historical English coat of arms. Whether this was intentional on Rowling's part is unknown.
- Gryffindor House won the second House Cup in Pottermore; their reward for winning was Gryffindor-related downloadable material.
- Fillius Flitwick was a Hatstall: the Hat wavered between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, before finally choosing the latter.
- Gryffindor could possibly be derived from griffin, which is a creature in mythology with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle.
- In Old English and Old High German dor means gate or door.
- In French "d'or" means "of gold," one of the Gryffindor House colours, though it can also come from the Greek word "dora" meaning "gift".
- A combination can be assumed; "Golden Gift of the Lion".
- "Griffe" is the French word for "claw", which could refer to the claw of the lion.
- "Gryffindor" could very well be explained by heraldry: "Gryffin" would then stand for the griffin beast, and the "[d]or" would refer to the metal tincture "[d'] or" (Middle English for "[of] gold", derived from French; corresponds to yellow).
- Gryffindor is also a pun on the golden gryffin, which is a lion that only has eagle wings, so it has the head and front paws of a lion, and has golden fur and feathers. Even the French for Griffindor, Griffondor is a French homophone for the actual beast, Griffon d'Or.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
- Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
- Harry Potter LEGO Sets
- Wonderbook: Book of Spells
- Pottermore
See also[edit]
Notes and references[edit]
- ↑ Pottermore - New from J. K. Rowling: Colours
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 F.A.Q. question on J.K. Rowling's Official Site
- ↑ 2000 Barnes and Noble and Yahoo! chat
- ↑ Stated in Ch. 33 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
- ↑ PotterCast 130
- ↑ "J. K. Rowling Surprises Harry Potter fans on Live Global Webacast"
- ↑ http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/show/4659


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Today's News: Our Take - Lea Michele Discusses Dating Cory Monteith, Diva Rumors and Her Prizewinning Breasts
Lea Michele recently opened up to Marie Claire about everything fans might want to know about the actress - including her relationship with Glee co-star Cory Monteith!
"I don't even remember a time when he wasn't my boyfriend," Michele, who split from Theo Stockman last September, confesses to the magazine. "No one knows me better than Cory. No one knows what it's been like to go through this more than he does.
Photos: Hey ladies, put away your cleavage!
"He makes me feel like I can do anything," she adds. "For the first time in my life, I feel really, really settled and happy. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world."
Fifty Shades of Lame! Check out TV's unsexiest sex scenes
Though Monteith appears to love Michele's ambitious nature, there are rumors the actress can be a bit of a diva on set - rumors Michele politely shuts down.
"I am a very outspoken person, and if something makes me uncomfortable, you will know that it makes me uncomfortable, but that's as far as it goes," Michele explains. "I can assure you that [the diva rumors] aren't real. It's super-frustrating sometimes, and I used to fight back, but now I feel like, you can think what you want about me - that's OK. I have the most amazing fans, friends, and family members who have stood by me, and I know that my cast and crew really enjoy working with me."
Photos: Everybody's posing nude! Check out Rihanna and other stars who've bared all
One thing Michele really enjoys: her breasts! "These babies are great," she tells the magazine. "They are my prizewinners."
View original Lea Michele Discusses Dating Cory Monteith, Diva Rumors and Her Prizewinning Breasts at TVGuide.com
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Anderson Cooper reveals a blooper real Dick Clark narrated, mocking his less glamorous moments.
Post by: Anderson Cooper
Filed under: Dick Clark • Pop Culture
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
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HLA-B*5801 allele
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HLA-B*5801 allele
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HLA-B*5801 allele
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Complete report $8,300. DataPack (test volumes, sales forecasts, supplier shares) $5,400.
This new 335-page report from VPGMarketResearch.com provides analysis of the European respiratory disease testing market, including emerging tests, technologies, instrumentation, sales forecasts by country, market shares, and strategic profiles of leading suppliers.
About this Report
This report presents detailed analysis of the Respiratory Disease market in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK). Current scientific views on epidemiology and etiology are provided for Adenovirus, Influenza, Legionella, Mononucleosis, Mycoplasma, Pneumonia, RSV and Tuberculosis. The report provides test volume and sales forecasts by country and market segment, including:
- Hospitals
- Commercial/Private Labs
- Physician Offices
- Public Health Labs
In addition to test volume and sales projections, the report presents sales and market share estimates for major suppliers of respiratory disease diagnostic products, by test and country. Also, the report:
- Examines market applications of Molecular Diagnostics,
Monoclonal Antibodies, Immunoassays, IT and other emerging technologies; thirteen
- Reviews features and operating characteristics of major analyzers used
for respiratory disease testing;
- Profiles key suppliers and potential market entrants developing innovative
technologies and products; and
- Analyzes emerging opportunities, alternative market penetration strategies,
market entry barriers/risks, and strategic planning issues.
The report is based on a combination of primary and secondary information sources, including interviews with laboratory directors, and executives of leading diagnostics companies and start-up firms developing innovative products in the five major European countries.
In addition to primary sources of information, a comprehensive review of the most recent technical and business publications, manufacturer product and financial literature, as well as VPGMarketResearch's proprietary data files was conducted.
Contains 335 pages and 76 tables


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For the latest updates to Global Public Square, including show information and Fareed's Take, visit the new GPS site on CNN.com.
I guess all good things must come to an end.
Who knows? Maybe they will keep it open passed Christmas. It's nice to share opinions and have them published instantly.
At least we have until the 19th.
Yes. At least we know when the last day is and we can comment until then.
Hi folks. I am Blue Saffron and I am a B AST ARD AND A
I live in a pig's pen with my family.
We all eat pig S.H.I.T for supper everyday
Narendra Modi is a global and glorious leader.
Hindoos are great people.
I want to be a Hindu because all Hindoos worldwide are good.
Yes Blue Saffron. I hear u.
I too want to be Hindu. And
Narendra Modi is my hero.
Viva beautiful India!
Long live Narendra Modi the Great.
India is truly great. Love it or leave it!
Hi all
Ah yes, zey remember me well.
Hi Joey. Blue Saffron had an accident. He hurt his hands and now he cannot type on his keypad. So no more trolls.
I'm so sad.
Good riddance
India is beautiful. ..Narendra Modi is a very good leader.
All the world loves him.
India is my favorite country.
Narendra Modi is great
Somebody needs attention wah wah wah
It's the 19th why aren't comments closed HA HA HA HA HA HA moron
@Adami. U be quiet!
Dear CNN
India is truly the best country in the entire planet. ..
God bless India and Narendra Modi. Narendra Modi is a wonderful leader
Hindoos are plain wonderful and Modi too.
Pakistan is a sewage hole.
Two things happen to everyone. You get old or you die.
What happened to so and so? Oh he got real old. He's in a nursing home.
What about so so and so? He died.
Banasy rayped me. It hurt. But it felt soooo good.
I am rupert and I approve or disapproval your posts. Now I run a tight ship. So be careful punks.
Ok CNN. U may post this one.
I'm the man!
Trump's ideas on birthing citizens are more interesting than the designs of most of his buildings here in NYC.
Cruz is free to choose any religion at all for himself, but not for me.
Republicans can find only a limited number of rich folks to vote for them, so they have to go after oppressively religious po' folks and hope for the best.
India...well, @ rupert...
Favorite country?
Maybe Italy.
I love England, too. It's genetic.
Trump wants to do away with the 14th Amendment. How do you feel about this Mr. Fraschini?
@ rupert,
I don't think that Mr. Trump will ever be elected as our president, so what he wants about amendments will not matter.
@ rupert, your Trump question would be a good one for the five finalists at the Pageant.
Were I chosen as a finalist, my answer would be, "I have always been so blessed by God with beauty that I have never read Amendments. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are more than enough for me to ponder...and I want to add that I support world peace and the education of children...and egalitarianism. Thank you."
"...I support world peace," spoken like a true beauty queen.
I too doubt Trump will not become our president. No diplomatic skills and his ego may not fit in the White House.
$1.5 million dollars for a two bedroom condo in uptown Manhattan. This is insane.
The two-bedroom condo's price is not shocking here in NYC.
Factor in the lowered value of the US dollar.
A generous pat of butter, when spread evenly on a piece of toast, becomes thin and can melt to almost nothing.
This is not my post. This jerk here is still using my name!


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Main Content
Top of the page
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. It lets you rise up on your toes and push off when you walk or run.
The two main problems are:
Problems with the Achilles tendon may seem to happen suddenly. But usually they are the result of many tiny tears in the tendon that have happened over time.
Achilles tendinopathy is likely to occur in men older than 30. Most Achilles tendon ruptures occur in people 30 to 50 years old who are recreational athletes ("weekend warriors"). Ruptures can also happen in older adults.
Achilles tendinopathy is most often caused by overuse or repeated movements during sports, work, or other activities. For example, if you do a lot of pushing off or stop-and-go motions when you play sports, you can get microtears in the tendon.
Achilles tendon rupture is most often caused by a sudden, forceful motion that stresses the calf muscle. This can happen during an intense athletic activity or even during simple running or jumping. Middle-aged adults are especially likely to get this kind of injury.
Symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy include swelling in the ankle area and mild or severe pain. The pain may come on gradually or may only occur when you walk or run. You may have less strength and range of movement in the ankle.
Symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture may include a sudden, sharp pain. Most people feel or hear a pop at the same time. Swelling and bruising may occur. You may not be able to point your foot down or stand on your toes.
Your doctor can tell if you have an Achilles tendon problem by asking questions about your past health and checking the back of your leg for pain and swelling.
If your symptoms are severe or don't improve with treatment, your doctor may want you to get an X-ray, ultrasound scan, or MRI.
Treatment for mild Achilles tendon problems includes rest, over-the-counter pain medicine, and stretching exercises. You may need to wear well-cushioned shoes and change the way you play sports so that you reduce stress on the tendon. Early treatment works best and can help prevent more injury. Orthotic shoe devices can also help reduce stress on the tendon.
Even in mild cases, it can take weeks to months of rest for the tendon to repair itself. It's important to be patient and not return too soon to sports and activities that stress the tendon.
Treatment for severe problems, such as a torn or ruptured tendon, may include surgery or a cast, splint, brace, walking boot, or other device that keeps the lower leg and ankle from moving. Exercise, either in physiotherapy or in a rehab program, can help the lower leg and ankle get strong and flexible again. The tendon will take weeks to months to heal.
Although treatment for Achilles tendon problems takes time, it usually works. Most people can return to sports and other activities.
Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Achilles tendinopathy is most often caused by:
Achilles tendon rupture is most often caused by:
Symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy may include:
Symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture may include:
If you have a partial rupture (tear) of the Achilles tendon, you may have near-normal strength and less pain after the initial injury, compared to what you would have after a complete rupture.
Achilles tendinopathy starts with repeated small tears in the tendon. These tears may cause no obvious symptoms. Or they may cause mild to severe pain during movement. As the tearing continues, the leg may weaken and the tendon pain may become constant. Abnormal growths (nodules) may form in the tendon, and it may thicken.
Without rest and treatment of Achilles tendinopathy, you may develop long-lasting (chronic) pain.
An Achilles tendon can partially tear or completely tear (rupture). A tear usually occurs in the tendon about 4 cm (1.5 in.) to 6.5 cm (2.5 in.) above where it attaches to the heel bone. Some doctors believe that this area is most likely to tear or rupture because of a limited blood supply.
If you don't treat an Achilles rupture, you will feel weakness in your first steps when you walk. It may feel like walking in the sand. Over time, walking will become difficult.
Other conditions can affect the Achilles tendon area. These other conditions are caused by inflammation. They include:
Things that increase your risk for Achilles tendinopathy or rupture include:
Other risk factors for an Achilles tendon rupture include:
Call your doctor now if you think you have an Achilles tendon problem (at or above the back of your ankle) and:
If you had an Achilles tendon injury in the past and you have reinjured your Achilles tendon, call your doctor to find out what you need to do. Rest your lower leg and foot until treatment begins.
Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. It's not a good choice if you have severe pain in the Achilles tendon area. Early treatment works best.
If you think you have Achilles tendinopathy and you have mild symptoms, rest your lower leg and foot for a couple of days. If you have weakness, cramping, or constant pain in your Achilles tendon, call your doctor.
Most doctors diagnose an Achilles tendon problem through a medical history and physical examination. This includes checking for tenderness, watching how you walk and stand, and comparing the range of motion of your two legs.
Other tests may be done to clarify a diagnosis or to prepare for surgery. These tests include:
Early treatment usually results in better healing.
To treat Achilles tendinopathy:
If your Achilles tendon shortens and stiffens while you sleep, your doctor may suggest that you wear a night brace to keep your foot in a neutral position (not pointing up or down).
If you keep having pain or stiffness in the ankle area, your doctor may prescribe a walking boot or other device for 4 to 6 weeks. This keeps your lower leg and ankle from moving. It allows the tendon to heal.
If you still have Achilles tendon pain after more than 6 months of consistent treatment and rest, you might need to consider surgery.
Treatment for an Achilles tendon rupture includes:
Don't smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking slows healing, because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair.
If you have an Achilles tendon rupture, your decision about whether to have surgery will depend in part on your:
Most Achilles tendon injuries occur during sports. If you had an Achilles tendon problem in the past, it is especially important to try to prevent another injury. To help prevent injury, try to:
Home treatment is often used for Achilles tendinopathy as part of physiotherapy or rehabilitation (rehab) after an Achilles tendon rupture.
Follow these steps to rest, heal, and strengthen your Achilles tendon and prevent further injury:
If your Achilles tendon shortens and stiffens while you sleep, your doctor may suggest that you wear a night brace to keep your foot in a neutral position.
No matter how you treat an Achilles tendon rupture, after treatment it's important to follow your rehab program. This program helps your tendon heal and helps prevent further injury.
You can use medicine to relieve pain from Achilles tendinopathy or an Achilles tendon rupture. The medicine may be prescription or non-prescription. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Corticosteroid injections, which sometimes are injected around tendons or into joints to reduce pain and inflammation, aren't used to treat Achilles tendinopathy. They may increase the risk of a tendon rupture.
Surgery usually isn't needed to treat Achilles tendinopathy. But in rare cases, someone might consider surgery when rubbing between the tendon and the tissue covering the tendon (tendon sheath) causes the sheath to become thick and fibrous. Surgery can be done to remove the fibrous tissue and repair any small tendon tears. This may also help prevent an Achilles tendon rupture.
Surgery is often used to reattach the ends of a ruptured Achilles tendon. It may provide a better chance of preventing the tendon from rupturing again compared to using a cast or other device that will keep your lower leg and ankle from moving ( immobilization).footnote 1
Surgery works best when you have surgery soon after your injury. Recovering from surgery may take months. Most surgeons will wait a few days for swelling to go down, then do the surgery as soon as possible. Surgery is usually done within 4 to 6 weeks. You will also need a rehabilitation (rehab) program to help heal and strengthen the tendon.
Surgery for an Achilles tendon rupture can be done with a single large incision, which is called open surgery. Or it can be done with several small incisions. This is called percutaneous surgery.
The differences in age and activity levels of people who get surgery can make it hard to know if Achilles tendon surgery is effective. The success of your surgery can depend on:
Talk to your surgeon about his or her surgical experience. Ask about his or her success rate with the technique that would best treat your condition.
Other treatments are often used for Achilles tendinopathy or rupture. Before using other treatments, you most likely will try rest and medicine to reduce pain and swelling.
A cast or similar device can be used to prevent the lower leg and ankle from moving (immobilization). This type of treatment may take as long as 6 months to completely heal a tendon. This is usually followed by a rehabilitation (rehab) program that helps you regain strength and flexibility in the tendon and leg. The rehab program may include physiotherapy.
Common physiotherapy treatments include:
If other treatment doesn't reduce your pain, your doctor may recommend using a cast or other device for 4 to 6 weeks. These devices can prevent your lower leg and ankle from moving and allow the tendon to heal. This is then followed by physiotherapy and changes in your activities.
Medical researchers continue to study new ways to treat tendon injuries. Talk to your doctor if you are interested in experimental treatments. Some of the treatments being studied include:
CitationsKhan RJK, Smith RLC (2010). Surgical interventions for treating acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (9).
Current as of: March 9, 2022
Author: Healthwise StaffMedical Review: Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal MedicineE. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal MedicineAdam Husney MD - Family MedicineKathleen Romito MD - Family MedicineDavide Bardana MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine
Current as of: March 9, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Davide Bardana MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2022 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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Alec Baldwin arrested in NYC after bike flap
NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Alec Baldwin was arrested and issued two summonses after allegedly acting belligerently toward two officers who had stopped him for riding his bicycle the wrong way down a New York City street, police said Tuesday.
The "30 Rock" star was riding his bike the wrong way at 16th Street and Fifth Avenue near Union Square Park in Manhattan when he was stopped at about 10:15 a.m. and asked to show identification, they said.
That's when Baldwin, 56, refused to show his ID and acted belligerently, prompting the officers to handcuff him and take him, and his bicycle, to a nearby precinct, they said.
Baldwin was issued two summonses — for riding a bike the wrong way down a street and for disorderly conduct — and was then released, police said.
He is scheduled to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on the disorderly conduct summons July 24.
A representative for Baldwin didn't immediately return a request for comment. But from his verified Twitter account, Baldwin said he'd been handcuffed for riding the wrong way on Fifth Avenue and posted the last name and badge number of the arresting officer.
He also tweeted that photographers outside his home terrified his daughter and disparaged New York City, calling it "a mismanaged carnival of stupidity."
The Oscar- and Tony-nominated-actor is known for his incendiary temper, most notably exposed when a voice mail of him berating his now-teenage daughter, Ireland Baldwin, came to light in 2007. He later said the message horrified him.
He was kicked off a plane in 2011 after refusing to stop playing a cellphone game, and he's gotten into confrontations with news photographers.
His personal life also was splashed into public last fall when he and his wife testified against a Canadian actress accused of stalking him. The actress, Genevieve Sabourin, was convicted after a Manhattan trial that delved into what she said was a steamy date and years of the actor stringing her along romantically. He said it was simply a professional dinner that degenerated into her harassing him.
In February, Baldwin wrote a New York magazine cover story decrying the constant tabloid coverage of his comings-and-goings in New York City, saying he "probably" needs to move out of the city and suggested he may soon be calling Los Angeles home.


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2 nice looking aoudad rams ready to go!!
These will make a great addition to any operation.
They can be picked up in Leakey or delivered by a contracted driver for $4/loaded mile. Easy as it gets!!
These were pen caught with no drugs.
No reserve so get those bids in NOW!! Good Luck!!
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text: The first of each Jewish month—the celebration of the new moon, its slender crescent barely visible in the night sky—is a day historically associated with women's renewal and celebration. In recent decades, Rosh Hodesh has become an occasion for Jewish women to gather for learning, ritual, and spiritual exploration, and to mark life passages. Rosh Hodesh groups, meeting monthly, offer a women's space in time. (Some men's gatherings have begun as well, sometimes associated with kiddush levanah, celebrating the coming full moon.)


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I've saved the spookiest tale for last. This one is straight-up creepy. I'm not kidding. The experience gave me the serious heebie-jeebies.
So let's make sure we have all of our supplies: Marshmallows, marshmallow toasting sticks, Hershey bars, graham crackers, campfire, and flashlights to shine under our chins to make scary faces at each other. Are we all set? Excellent.This one happened about 15 years ago. I was visiting the battlefields in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Gettysburg was the site of the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War: more than 50,000 casualties (Union and Confederate combined) in just three days.
If you've ever been to Gettysburg, you know what a weird place it is. For those of you who have never visited, it's a bizarre experience. The town is charming and the battlefields are beautiful land now. But even on the sunniest spring day, a sad pall hangs over the area. It's palpable. Even if you had no idea where you were, you'd still know something terrible happened there.
I was with some friends for a ghost-hunting weekend. (Don't mock, we were doing this stuff way before Ghost Hunters et al ruined it.) We stopped at an area called Cemetery Ridge, which was reputed to have a lot of unexplained activity.
At this location, on the evening of July 2, 1863, the 1st Minnesota Regiment was ordered to defend a U.S. Army artillery battery and hold off the advancing Confederates until reinforcements could arrive. The trouble was, there were only 262 Minnesotans on Cemetery Ridge that night, and they faced three Alabama regiments numbering about 11,000 men. In what was essentially a suicide mission, the 1st Minnesota charged. The fight lasted less than 15 minutes but it stalled the Confederates long enough for additional Union forces to arrive and hold the line. The Minnesotans suffered 215 casualties, including 40 dead.
You can see why such a place might be haunted.
We were in a wooded area with a clearing. One of my friends wanted to see if he could get anything on tape. So he took out a brand-new tape cassette (remember those?), removed the cellophane, and put the cassette in the recorder. He turned the recorder on and left it running on a large rock. We wandered around in the trees for a while and met back at the area near the rock. We talked about how eerie the place was—it was almost dark and the winds were whipping everything around. It was unsettling. One of my friends even joked, "I wonder how many ghost soldiers are here with us right now." After hanging around for about 10 more minutes, we decided to call it a night.
Back in the car, we played the tape. Nothing interesting. A lot of ambient noise—wind, people walking around, the snapping of twigs. Every so often it would pick up one of us talking, but that was about it.
When we got to the part where we were standing near the tape recorder, we heard our friend's comment: "I wonder how many ghosts soldiers are here with us right now."
About five seconds later on the tape, a hoarse, sad-sounding male voice said, "So many." Just those two words. They were so distinct that it sounded as if the man had been talking directly into the microphone.
We all looked at each other. Everyone had that WTF expression. We must have played that section of the tape at least ten times. There was no mistaking the voice or what it said.
Nobody else had been with us in that clearing. No one had been close enough to speak into the recorder like that. Not to mention the fact that the voice on the tape didn't match any of ours.
The rest of the tape didn't have anything interesting on it. We never did figure out where the voice came from. I can only assume it was one of the men from Minnesota letting us know that he—and a lot of his comrades—were still there…


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It's harder than ever to run a truly actively managed fund. Here's how four firms execute unique – and successful – strategies. "We want to know that there's intellectual thought, that there's a process for buying companies, as well as for selling them"
April 7, 2013 Leave a comment
Earning Their Keep
By SARAH MAX | MORE ARTICLES BY AUTHOR
It's harder than ever to run a truly actively managed fund. Here's how four firms execute unique — and successful — strategies.
It's not easy being an active fund manager these days. Market information that was once available to a privileged few now flows freely and quickly. Index funds and exchange-traded funds, meanwhile, make it possible to implement simple or sophisticated strategies cheaply and effectively.
And then there's performance.
Last year, 66% of domestic equity managers underperformed relative to the Standard & Poor's 1500 index, according to the S&P Dow Jones Indices SPIVA Scorecard. That's a considerable improvement over 2011, when 84% of active managers lagged the benchmark, but it's hardly vindication for stock-picking. Even managers dealing in the supposedly inefficient international markets have struggled to get an edge. Last year, just 56% of international funds and 54% of emerging-market funds managed to deliver that elusive, market-beating "alpha" they're paid for. There have been consequences: Over the past five years, nearly 27% of actively managed domestic equity funds and 23% of international equity funds have merged or liquidated.
So what's an active manager to do? Some end up as "closet indexers," who charge too much for hugging the index. In 2011, only 11% of assets invested in actively managed large-company funds were in portfolios that deviated from their benchmark by more than 80%, according to Martijn Cremers, a Notre Dame professor who helped pioneer "active share," a measure of how truly active an active manager is. However, "skilled managers are out there," says Charlie Ruffel, managing partner at Kudu Advisors, a strategic advisory firm for asset managers. "The challenge is in identifying them."
The standout managers tend to have standout firms behind them, equipping them with the research teams, technology, financial backing, and supportive culture needed to go above and beyond. Some favor more concentrated approaches, investing in a small number of their very best ideas. Others take pains to investigate or even involve themselves with the management of the companies they invest in. Some take creative approaches to data-crunching, creating new perspectives on the market, while others simply thrive in a culture of constantly questioning and defending their stock-picking and portfolio moves. "Up until five years ago, managers didn't need to try so hard to stand out," adds Ruffel. "We're in a different place." Experts, such as financial advisors and consultants who help institutions choose funds, are constantly evaluating managers, looking for a process that brings consistent outperformance. They're also looking for lights and mirrors — actions that appear to be in the name of research but don't add value. Too much activity, they say, can be a warning sign. For instance, a manager who spends a disproportionate amount of time or travel on a position that represents less than 5% of the portfolio "might be cause for concern," says Jonathan Bergman, a managing director at TAG Associates in New York. In general, however, Bergman and his peers are reassured when they hear that management has gone to great lengths to gain extra insight into a holding. "We want to know that there's intellectual thought, that there's a process for buying companies, as well as for selling them," he says.GRANTED, MOST INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS aren't privy to fund-manager tales of company visits and retail reconnaissance trips. "Many investors would be hard-pressed to tell you what the expense ratio of their fund is, let alone its strategy," says Brad Barber, a professor of finance at the University of California, Davis, and an expert in investor behavior. But those who are inclined to learn the nuances of a fund's investment process can put together a mosaic using fund-company literature and public information.
Tim Courtney, chief investment officer at Exencial Wealth Advisors in Oklahoma City, starts by looking at fees. "The first thing we want to know is, How big a hole do they have to dig themselves out of?" he says. If an active manager charges higher-than-average expense ratios, his long-term returns should be proportionately higher than his peers and his benchmark. Turnover, he says, is also pretty telling, and not just because it has a big impact on trading costs. "If you're an active manager, you're saying that assets are mispriced, and it can take a long time for things to get fairly priced," he adds.
Shareholder letters can be a good proxy for talking with a manager face-to-face. Fund managers should be able to articulate their approach and explain exactly how that translates to recent investment decisions. If the letters are banal, lack conviction, and lack a distinct point of view, you might question whether the same is true of the fund.
Ultimately, fund managers who stand out have cultivated a consistent process that drives consistent results. Barron's examined four strategies that have proven themselves — alternative approaches to data, exhaustive company visits, "devil's advocate" debates, and the use of industry specialists — and took a closer look at some managers who exemplify each strategy.
The Number Cruncher
In 2004, Newport Beach, Calif.–based Research Affiliates unveiled a new breed of index, one that isn't merely weighted by market value, but also by companies' economic footprints, as measured by factors such as sales, cash flow, dividends, and book value. There is now an estimated $84 billion invested in products based on the RAFI Fundamental Index strategies.
Rob Arnott, the firm's founder, says he takes great pride in these indexes, but he doesn't exactly consider himself a passive manager. "I believe that the markets are not entirely efficient, and that active management has a role, but that it usually goes astray," says Arnott, 58, who also manages the $34 billion Pimco All Asset fund (ticker: PASAX) and $33 billion Pimco All Asset All Authority(PAUAX) funds, which can invest in virtually any asset class and aim to deliver strong after-inflation returns.
Arnott uses data to keep the emotion out of investing — the primary reason active management goes astray. He relies heavily on economic models he's been following and fine-tuning for more than three decades. "I've always believed that using models can help us not fall prey to the most dangerous aspect of investing, which is human emotion," he says. "In early 2009, when we were ramping up aggressiveness, I was scared, but ultimately the bargains in some asset classes were so impressive that Armageddon was necessary for these asset classes to fail to deliver."
While vast amounts of data go into this model — it doesn't have a name, though it probably should — it analyzes historical yields and growth rates of more than 25 different asset classes to estimate forward rates of return. "There are nuances, and that's the secret sauce," says Arnott. "But you could take our basic building blocks of yield-plus-growth and capture two-thirds of the value."
Most investors should be so lucky. In 2008, when the S&P 500 plunged 37%, All Asset Authority was down 7.5% and All Asset was down 16%. Both funds are lagging behind the market this year; chalk it up to Arnott's stingy allocation to equities, which he thinks have more risk than most people realize. "Today, investors are less worried about downside risk than missing the last nickel in front of a steamroller," he says. "It's time to say 'thank you' to the market and take some risk off the table."
His model agrees. "From day to day, the model rarely surprises us," says Arnott. "It will trim what's becoming popular and buy what's falling out of favor." Arnott and his team occasionally augment the model to adjust for circumstances that — for now, anyway — it doesn't capture. In early 2003, for example, on the eve of the war in Iraq, "It was evident that war in a resource-rich area of the world would boost commodity prices," says Arnott. "We said, 'Whatever the model tells us, we're going to own 5% to 10% more.' " Likewise, between 2006 and 2012, seeing that liability-driven investment strategies — often used by pension plans to match expected returns with their future payouts — would boost demand for long-term government securities, the team added 5% to 10% to the model's prescription.
Arnott is quick to point out that the model is the product of human hypothesis and inputs. Walk through Research Affiliates, and you'll encounter people who spend their days focusing on "anything from big picture with no immediate-investment applications, to the intermediate picture with some possible immediate-investment implications," says Arnott, who works alongside Jason Hsu, the firm's chief investment officer, and 24 research and investment professionals, nine of whom have Ph.D.s. The vibe is "quasi-academic" with researchers obsessing about everything from understanding the key drivers of inflation to forecasting how declining birth rates will affect the capital markets. "But unlike academia," says Arnott, "our end goal is to make money for our clients."
The Globe-Trotter
Laura Geritz can count on two hands the number of days she spent in the office during the first quarter this year. The co-manager of three international funds at Wasatch Advisors in Salt Lake City isn't exactly a slacker. On the contrary, between last year and her travels so far this year, she has logged more than 167,000 airline miles and visited 24 different countries on five different continents.
In fact, Geritz, 40, and the other eight members of the international team tend to spend most of their time abroad visiting companies, talking fiscal policy with local bankers, wandering the aisles of grocery stores and shopping malls, and chitchatting with hired drivers. "When you spend 10 hours a day in a car with a local driver, you learn a lot about a country," says Geritz, who co-manages the $1.9 billion Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap fund (WAEMX), which is up an average of 14% a year over the past three years and ranks in the top 1% of its emerging-markets category.
Most bottoms-up fund managers will talk up the importance of meeting with company management to get a read on what's really happening at a company (see "What Fund Managers Don't Want to See," at bottom of this article.). In the ultra-inefficient world of tiny companies in emerging markets, it's the difference between finding hidden gems and getting bamboozled.
The universe of potential ideas is huge, covering thousands of companies. To narrow it down, Geritz and her colleagues divvy the emerging and frontier universe into sectors, and screen for growing companies with high-quality balance sheets. They'll do what research they can at home, but at some point — particularly with companies not covered by sell-side analysts — they pack their bags. "We screen very diligently, and that determines what companies we visit," she says. "But getting in the country and knowing the culture is so important."
Once on the ground, the numbers start to come to life. Sometimes, what appears to be just a decent company based on the numbers reveals itself as a great opportunity. This was the case with India's division of Castrol India (CSTRL.India), which they picked up in 2009 and continue to own today in two funds. "We didn't get a sense for just how good the business was until we went to India," says Geritz.
Of course, the opposite is often true. A couple of years ago, the team visited the sprawling offices of a Chinese financial company that had recently gone public. "But there were only two people there, an [investor relations] person and what looked like an auditor," she says. "It didn't feel right." In other cases, the problems aren't as immediately apparent. "The more time you can spend with management, the more they will talk," says Geritz. In another example, she recounts sitting down with managers of a Bangladesh fuel supplier that had done well. Yet, when pressed on its five-year strategy, "they had some crazy ideas," she says. "I thought it was a 'buy' walking in, but walking out, it was a clear pass."
In fact, the difference between the good and bad companies in most of the areas Geritz covers becomes clear pretty quickly, she says. In that respect, adding value to the process is far easier than with, say, larger domestic stocks. Still, those discoveries are hard-earned. Not only is Geritz on the road for months out of the year, but she packs her days with company meetings and uses her evenings to catch up on all the work she'd be doing if she were in the office.
Geritz is about to leave for a three-week trip to Vietnam, soon followed by a four-country tour in Africa. The job never gets boring. Still, it's not exactly what one imagines of a globe-trotting financier. Brown water, frequent power outages, and upset stomachs are all hazards of the job. Glamorous? "Come spend a few days with us in a hotel in Zimbabwe and see for yourself," says Geritz, laughing.
Devil's Advocate
At many investment firms, tearing apart the ideas of star fund managers is career suicide. At Harris Associates, the Chicago-based value shop that runs the Oakmark funds, it's not only encouraged (and financially rewarded), but it's also part of a decades-long tradition called "devil's advocate." Throughout the year, the investment team's 22 analysts volunteer to "DA" (yep, they use it as a verb) the firm's top holdings or entire sectors by researching and presenting reasons not to own a company or, at the very least, rethink its valuations.
Matt Logan, 29, an analyst and one of Harris' more enthusiastic devils, says he was pleasantly surprised when he joined the firm seven years ago and soon found himself going head-to-head with the likes of Clyde McGregor, manager of the $18.6 billionOakmark Equity & Income (OAKBX), and Bill Nygren, manager of the $8.6 billionOakmark fund (OAKMX). "They don't just tolerate people challenging their ideas, they relish it," says Logan.
The tradition dates back to the late 1980s, when the firm brought in a University of Chicago professor to give a workshop on decision theory and critique the investment team. "He said our big danger was 'groupthink' and made suggestions that turned into what is now the devil's advocate process," says McGregor, 60, adding that all of the firm's analysts are generalists by design. "We want people to be comfortable stepping on each other's toes and willing to challenge the conventional point of view."
The culture at Oakmark encourages young analysts like Matt Logan, right, to routinely and actively challenge the picks of veteran investors like Clyde McGregor, manager of Oakmark Equity & Income.
When a devil targets a stock, the three-person domestic investment committee (McGregor, Nygren, and Robert Levy) or two-person international committee (David Herro and Rob Taylor) vote on whether to stay the course. Though most holdings stick — the bar is high for getting into the portfolio in the first place — devils routinely persuade managers to take a second look.
That was the case about two years ago when 26-year veteran analyst John Raitt critiqued avionics company Rockwell Collins (COL), which was an Equity & Income holding. He argued that a slower-than-expected recovery and a shift from the higher-margin commercial-aircraft-supply business to military and defense, among other things, warranted a lower earnings multiple. The analyst who had recommended the stock (a.k.a. the angel) made a compelling rebuttal, pointing to the company's position as a market leader, proven management, and high-margin aftermarket sales. Still, the group decided to monitor the holding closely and ultimately lowered its sell target, which is typically 90 cents on the dollar based on its intrinsic value estimate. McGregor sold the stock in January 2011, when it was near its five-year high of about $67 a share, a decision that proved opportune. The stock plummeted the following summer to $45 a share and has only recently broken $60 again.
All told, looking at the dark side of a holding or sector seems to have served these investors well. Four of the seven Oakmark funds rank in the top 1% or 2% of their respective categories for five-year results, according to Morningstar. McGregor's Equity & Income fund is the lone laggard over that time frame, with average annual returns of 4.5% a year, putting it smack in the middle of its moderate-allocation category. McGregor attributes these results not to the fund's equity holdings but to his decidedly defensive stance on the fixed-income side, which is currently parked in short-term government and agency debt. The fund's 15-year returns, it's worth noting, average 8.8% a year, better than 99% of its peers.
A few years ago, Harris decided to give the devils an even more prominent role by bringing them in early to poke holes in new investment ideas. Now, when analysts and fund managers present their best ideas at the firm's weekly stock-selection meeting, they must face their demons.
The Specialists
Eddie Yoon's parents, a retired radiologist and dentist, were hoping their son would pursue medicine. He started on the pre-med track at Brown University, but switched to finance his junior year. "They said if this career in finance doesn't work out, medicine can be your backup plan," says Yoon, 33.
No such luck. After an internship at JPMorgan the summer before his senior year, Yoon was not only hooked on the markets, he had also landed himself a job as an analyst following health care. Today, he heads up the 12-person health-care-sector research team at Fidelity Investments and manages five specialty funds, including the $3 billionFidelity Select Health Care fund (FSPHX), which is up 12.7% annually over the past five years. While Yoon spends plenty of time obsessing about cash-flow estimates and expiring patents, he spends just as much time talking with clinicians, traveling to genome conferences, and reading the fine print of clinical trials. Mom and Dad are proud.
When Yoon moved to Fidelity in 2006, the firm was in the early stages of creating a specialist track for analysts and portfolio managers. Until then, analysts tended to switch sectors every two or three years to bring fresh eyes to the coverage. "Sometimes, analysts can fall in love with management teams, or they do just the opposite and get soured," says Chris Bartel, the firms' director of global equity research.
But important institutional knowledge was getting lost in the shuffle, particularly in highly technical areas, such as information technology, chemicals, and biotechnology. Meanwhile, many Wall Street firms were consolidating their research teams and at a time when the pervasiveness of technology and growth in developing markets called for more specialized knowledge.
As a remedy, Fidelity introduced a "career analyst" track whereby specialists like Yoon could stay put. Fidelity's huge research staff — about 130 analysts strong — still has roving analysts who bring new perspectives to their areas of coverage, but every broad sector is anchored by one or more analysts who know their industries inside and out. "One of my fundamental beliefs is if you do better research, you can find meaningful insights that you can capitalize on," says Yoon, who aims to keep volatility low in the Select Health Care fund by investing a large chunk of the fund's assets in companies that can grow earnings regardless of the economic backdrop.
One such insight came out of his fascination with genome-sequencing. "One of the first stocks I pitched at Fidelity was Illumina [ILMN]," says Yoon, who is a regular at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology meeting. Fidelity began investing in the company, which makes tools for sequencing, in 2006, when it was trading in the teens. Yoon was a fan for years but began reducing his position in early 2011 when the stock tipped past $70. "At the end of the day, I'm an investor," says Yoon of the importance of not getting too enamored by scientific discovery.
Yoon supplements his own in-depth research in life sciences and health-care equipment with expertise from his fellow specialists. If he wants to know the nuances of the Affordable Care Act, he turns to Steve Bullock, who manages the Fidelity Select Medical Delivery fund (FSHCX) and is well versed in Washington. When it comes to medical advances in emerging markets, he confers with international analyst Jeff Stevens. For insight into biotechnology, he turns to analyst Eirene Kontopoulos, a Harvard Medical School Ph.D. in neuroscience, and industry veteran Rajiv Kaul.
When Kaul arrived at Fidelity in 1996, biotechnology was still a relatively new area where there was opportunity for "neophytes" like him. Kaul took particular interest and managed to stay put. "Biotech is an industry that most people are afraid of," he says, and understandably, since "most drugs that go into clinical trials fail." Since taking over the $4.2 billion Fidelity Select Biotechnology fund (FBIOX) in 2005, Kaul has managed to avoid most of the big failures. The fund is up an average of 17.6% a year over the past five years, better than 95% of its health-care-sector peers and more than twice that of the Standard & Poor's 500.
Indeed, biotechnology — and health care in general — is an area where the gap between the haves and have-nots is particularly extreme, says Yoon. Over the long term, investors might do well riding the coattails of a passive fund, but with careful research, he says, "you can own the biggest winners and avoid the biggest losers."
What Fund Managers Don't Want to See
Investors who take a bottoms-up approach often talk about the importance of meeting with executives and seeing company headquarters and facilities for themselves. "We want to find good management, and you can't tell that from a glossy annual report," says Richard Cook, manager of the Cook & Bynum fund (ticker: COBYX). "You have to find ways to get a window into their world."
What are they looking for? In a nutshell: professional, but not ostentatious, companies run by down-to-earth executives who know their businesses and are respected by their employees. Now, here's what they don't want to see.
Fancy cars and vanity plates: "What kind of car the CEO drives is a great indicator of their approach to life and management," says Brian Frank, manager of the Frank Value fund (FRNKX). Ditto goes for over-the-top corporate headquarters — complete with expensive art, lush gardens, and koi ponds — as well as executives wearing bling-bling watches, rings, and cuff links.
Pictures with famous people: "It's a declaration of victory, which we don't like to see as investors," says Mitch Rubin, manager of the RiverPark Large Growth fund (RPXFX). He'd rather see family photos or pictures from company events than snapshots of the CEO with professional athletes and celebrities.
Ping-pong tables and other gimmicks: Having worked as a software engineer before moving into investing, Kim Forrest, an analyst with the Fort Pitt Capital Total Return fund (FPCGX), understands what drives engineers and other creators — and it's not chair massagers or 24-hour frozen-yogurt bars. "That's just gilding the lily," she says.
Charitable causes that don't add up: Investors are all for corporate giving if it aligns with the company mission and enhances the brand, but box seats at the symphony for the C-suite or big gifts to the top dog's favorite cause "is giving away shareholder money," says Cook.
Long-distance leaders: "The management team is the body and soul of the company," says Rubin, who bristles when he hears about a CEO who doesn't live in the same city or state as the company headquarters. "If they set themselves apart, have different rules and different offices, it speaks of someone who is more about self-aggrandizement than the success of the business."
Clueless CEOs: Keith Trauner, co-manager of the GoodHaven fund (GOODX), recalls a company meeting where he asked the CEO to talk about his four largest customers. "He deferred to the CFO," says Trauner, who, needless to say, wasn't impressed.
Too much talk about the stock: John Buckingham, CIO of AFAM Capital, jokes that when companies come calling, it's time to sell the stock. "Frankly, we'd rather the managers ran the business than run around the country promoting the stock," he says. Regardless of where fund managers meet executives, "anything that sounds like they're selling their stock makes us suspicious," says Cook. "We much prefer management to be focused on their customer and let us figure out if their stock is cheap."


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FreeRunner/Buttons and LEDs
From Openmoko
This is the Software specification for the Openmoko Neo FreeRunner Button and LEDs.
|In progress: This article or section documents one or more features whose implementation are in progress.
What's currently implemented
/sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-aux:red/ /sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-power:blue/ /sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-power:orange/
Those are all userspace directories for controlling the LEDs. echo 0 > brightness will turn the LED off. echo 1 > brightness will turn it on. trigger currently does nothing.
- AUX = Button on the left side of the device, upper area
- POWER = Button on the right side of the device, center area (right below the USB socket)
|behind AUX button
|behind POWER button
|behind POWER button
|behind POWER button if turning on the blue and the orange buttons together
- OFF = Device has no power or has been shutdown
- ON = Device is fully powered
- ON+CHARGING = Device is fully powered and has been connected to a USB host or Openmoko charger.
- LOCK = Device is fully powered, but has screen lock displayed
- SUSPEND = Device has been suspended to low-power mode
Basic Button Usage
This is grouped by mode:
Mode: OFF
- To switch the device on: Press and hold POWER until the boot logo appears.
- To enter the "normal" (NAND) boot menu: Press and hold POWER, one second later press and hold AUX.
- To enter the "rescue" (NOR) boot menu: Press and hold AUX, then press and hold POWER.
Mode: ON
- To suspend the device: Press POWER.
- To shut down the device: Press and hold POWER for 4 seconds. If the device hangs, press and hold POWER for 8 seconds. If it still hangs, remove the battery and disconnect from USB.
- To go to the home screen: Press AUX.
- To display the profile screen: Press and hold AUX until it appears.
Mode: SUSPEND
- To wakeup the device: Press POWER.
Basic LED Usage
LEDs are very useful in broadcasting valuable basic status information to the user in a way that the user does not have to unlock the device, enable the screen or turning the screen saver off and subsequently search the screen for basic status information.
This is grouped by mode:
Mode: OFF
- All LEDs will be turned off.
Mode: ON
- HEARTBEAT will emit a short blink every 4 seconds.
- If Bluetooth is powered on, WIRELESS will emit a short blink every 2 seconds.
- If Wifi is powered on, WIRELESS will emit a long blink every 2 seconds.
- If Bluetooth and Wifi are powered on, WIRELESS will be lit continuosly.
Mode: ON+CHARGING
Same as ON, with the exception of
- HEARTBEAT will increase blinking as the charge level of the battery increases.
- HEARTBEAT will be continuosly lit, if the battery has been fully charged.
Mode: SUSPEND
- All LEDs will be turned off.
Advanced Button/LED Usage
- In ON-Mode, EVENT will blink every 2 seconds if there's an event that needs your attention.
- The more events, the faster EVENT will blink.
- Pressing AUX will acknowledge the event with the topmost priority and display it to you.
- EVENT will stop to blink once all events have been acknowledged.
A first rules implementation
A C implementation of these rules has been done by smurfy - phil and is available at http://www.smurfy.de/files/neo/openmoko-led-v1.tar.gz
Implementations of other LED behaviors
Blink LEDs to a user-definable rhythm
A Python Script For Blinking Leds By Beats. This script reads beats from a file and blinks FreeRunners LEDs accordingly.
File format is human readable text, consisting of a simple sequence of integer quartet (4 numbers). The first number representing status of blue power-led, second means status of orange power-led and third means status of red aux-led. 0=OFF, 1=ON. (If blue=1 and orange=1 then power=lila. This has nothing to do with this python script or this file format.) The last number represents the duration in milliseconds to hold that situation of leds. Any non digit characters in the file count as a separators between numbers, but are otherwise ignored.
It requires packages python-core and python-re from opkg.
Led blinker
#!/usr/bin/python """Led Blinker Player Usage: python leds.py [filename] """ import sys import time import re def loadFromTextFile(filename): infile = open(filename) contents = infile.read() return re.findall("(\d+)\D*(\d+)\D*(\d+)\D*(\d+)", contents) def playNote(blue_value, orange_value, red_value, duration): blue.write(str(blue_value) + "\n") orange.write(str(orange_value) + "\n") red.write(str(red_value) + "\n") time.sleep(float(duration) / 1000.0) def playFile(filename): global blue, orange, red notes = loadFromTextFile(filename) blue = open("/sys/class/leds/gta02-power:blue/brightness", "w", 1) orange = open("/sys/class/leds/gta02-power:orange/brightness", "w", 1) red = open("/sys/class/leds/gta02-aux:red/brightness", "w", 1) for first,second,third, duration in notes: playNote(first,second,third,duration) playNote(0, 0, 0, 0) blue.close() orange.close() red.close() if __name__ == "__main__": playFile(sys.argv[1])
Example Beat
The following is an example "fireworks"-file that can be used to test the led blinker.
1 0 0 100 1 0 1 100 1 1 0 100 0 1 0 100 0 1 1 100 0 0 1 100 1 1 1 100 1 0 0 100 1 0 1 100 1 1 0 100 0 1 0 100 0 1 1 100 0 0 1 100 1 1 1 100 1 0 0 100 1 0 1 100 1 1 0 100 0 1 0 100 0 1 1 100 0 0 1 100 1 1 1 100
Charge State and Wi-Fi transfer
Seba has written a script called ledd which indicates charging state and transferring data over wifi on the LEDs. It is available here.
Power Status
The following shell script uses the blue and orange LEDs under the power button to show battery power status.
The script will indicate high battery with blue, medium battery by purple (blue + orange), and low battery by orange. Adjust low_thresh and high_thresh values (as percent of full power) for your needs.
You can have it autostart by saving the script as /etc/init.d/lights.sh
and then create a symlink to it by running
ln -s /etc/init.d/lights.sh /etc/rc5.d/S15lights
Don't forget to "chmod +x" this script. :)
#!/bin/sh high_thresh=75 low_thresh=30 while :; do value=$(cut -d' ' -f7 < /proc/apm | cut -d% -f1) #echo "Value: $value" if [ $value -lt $low_thresh ]; then #echo "Low Battery" echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-power:orange/brightness echo 0 > /sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-power:blue/brightness elif [ $value -gt $high_thresh ]; then #echo "High Battery" echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-power:blue/brightness echo 0 > /sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-power:orange/brightness else #echo "Mid Battery" echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-power:blue/brightness echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/gta02-led.0/leds/gta02-power:orange/brightness fi sleep 15 done &


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Founded in 1906, the New Balance Arch Support Company began as a Boston-based shoe manufacturer. In the decades since, New Balance has shifted its focus and grown to become a leading global athletic products company.
Since the days of selling arch supports to police officers and waiters, New Balance has been a brand concerned with meeting the needs of the everyday athlete. The company asserts that part of producing superior footwear and athletic apparel is manufacturing it to fit all widths and sizes, because a better fit produces better comfort and performance.
The company also prides itself on a commitment to domestic production and operates five factories in the northeast United States. As a result, 25 percent of all New Balance products are manufactured domestically.
In recent years, New Balance has made significant strides in athletic apparel. The company boasts a more progressive approach to active fashion with innovative fabrics and features, an attractive color palette, and timeless designs. New Balance now features a large collection of garments, including everything from technical running shoes to athletic workout attire. Engineered to be versatile and durable, New Balance apparel incorporates advanced moisture management liners, breathable microfibers, and water-resistant coatings to provide the ultimate in comfort and weather protection.
New Balance has experienced significant growth recently, in part because of its commitment to high-quality women's workout clothes. The company features collections of workout pants, shorts, and capris, as well as short sleeve shirts, sleeveless shirts, and tank tops. This includes the popular "Tempo" and "Adapter" lines of clothing. In all of its apparel and gear, New Balance strives for the perfect balance of comfort, style, and function.


text:
With IconWorkshop make your own icons for Windows, Macintosh and Unix. It creates Windows icons up to 256x256 for Windows Vista and Macintosh icons up to 512x512 for Leopard (Mac OS 10.5). Unix uses PNG icons. IconWorkshop creates PNG images with alpha channel in a few clicks including from existing Windows and Mac OS icons.
The new generation of icons uses variable transparency (alpha channel). This feature permits creating beautiful icons with smooth borders and shadows. You need a professional tool to create such icons. Axialis IconWorkshop has been designed with one goal in mind: "Icon Quality".
Enjoy the powerful editor which permits creating the various image formats of an icon from an original drawing without quality loss.
Five reasons to try IconWorkshop:
- One professional tool for all your needs
- Create icons for both Windows and Macintosh OS
- Be productive instantly - No complicated settings
- Access to private images objects
- Compatible with graphic industry standards


text:
Marlins salary dump to Toronto finalized
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins finalized their big salary dumping trade that sends All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes to the Toronto Blue Jays with pitchers Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, catcher John Buck and outfielder Emilio Bonifacio for seven relatively low-priced players.
Miami received infielders Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, pitchers Henderson Alvarez, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Nicolino, catcher Jeff Mathis and outfielder Jake Marisnick under the deal, which was agreed to last week and completed Monday. The Marlins also are sending Toronto cash.
The trade was finalized after baseball Commissioner Bud Selig decided not to block it.
"This transaction, involving established major leaguers and highly regarded young players and prospects, represents the exercise of plausible baseball judgment on the part of both clubs (and) does not violate any express rule of Major League Baseball and does not otherwise warrant the exercise of any of my powers to prevent its completion," Selig said in a statement. "It is, of course, up to the clubs involved to make the case to their respective fans that this transaction makes sense and enhances the competitive position of each, now or in the future."
The players traded by the Marlins have combined guaranteed salaries of $163.75 million through 2018, including $96 million due Reyes.
The net coming off the Marlins' books is $154 million, which does not account for the cash involved in the trade.
Since flopping during the first half of their first season at their new ballpark, the Marlins also have traded former NL batting champion Hanley Ramirez, second baseman Omar Infante, right-hander Anibal Sanchez and closer Heath Bell.
The Marlins have been criticized for jettisoning veterans after moving into a ballpark largely funded by public money.
"I am sensitive to the concerns of the fans of Miami regarding this trade, and I understand the reactions I have heard," Selig said. "Baseball is a social institution with important social responsibilities and I fully understand that the Miami community has done its part to put the Marlins into a position to succeed with beautiful new Marlins Park. Going forward, I will continue to monitor this situation with the expectation that the Marlins will take into account the sentiments of their fans, who deserve the best efforts and considered judgment of their club. I have received assurances from the ownership of the Marlins that they share these beliefs and are fully committed to build a long-term winning team that their fans can be proud of."


text:
It's important to clean the ear tips and earbuds of all Bose® in-ear headphones and headsets, including the fine mesh screens on each earbud. This helps to ensure the best audio performance. Even a small amount of debris can cause the sound to fade or cut out altogether.
Cleaning your headphones
- To clean the ear tips, remove them from the earbuds and wash them with mild soap. Make sure you thoroughly rinse and dry them with a soft cloth (allow them to completely dry before reattaching them to the earbuds)
- To clean the earbuds, remove the ear tips from the earbuds and lightly brush the mesh screens with a soft dry cloth (be careful not to push ear wax into the mesh surface or port hole). Then reattach the ear tips
- To deep clean the mesh screen, follow these steps:
- Remove the tips from the earbuds
- Apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide (maximum concentration, 3%) to the mesh surface of the earbud using a soft cloth or tissue (be careful not to allow excess liquid to enter the open port on the earbud)
- Let the earbuds sit for five minutes to allow the wax to soften
- Wet a soft-bristled toothbrush with hydrogen peroxide (maximum concentration, 3%) and gently scrub the mesh screen to loosen and remove the wax without allowing excess hydrogen peroxide to enter the open port on the earbud
- After the mesh surface is clean, gently shake out any excess liquid and debris, and dry the earbud with a soft cloth
- Reattach the ear tips